16 Self-Help Books Written from Personal Experience with Depression and Anxiety

by Marsha M. Linehan, PhD

Amazon Rating:  4.7 /5 stars

In this remarkable and inspiring memoir, Linehan describes how, when she was eighteen years old, she began an abrupt downward spiral from popular teenager to suicidal young woman. After several miserable years in a psychiatric institute, Linehan made a vow that if she could get out of emotional hell, she would try to find a way to help others get out of hell too, and to build a life worth living. 

She went on to put herself through night school and college, living at a YWCA and often scraping together spare change to buy food. She went on to get her PhD in psychology, specializing in behavior therapy.

In the 1980s, she achieved a breakthrough when she developed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a therapeutic approach that combines acceptance of the self and ways to change. Linehan included mindfulness as a key component in therapy treatment, along with original and specific life-skill techniques.

She says, “You can’t think yourself into new ways of acting; you can only act yourself into new ways of thinking.”

by Lisa Shirah-Hiers

Amazon Rating:   5/5 stars

Written by a fellow sufferer of depression and bipolar disorder, this little book contains a rule of life for those living with depression and other conditions.

In a friendly, conversational tone, the author presents ways of coping with and thinking about depression that will help you on the road to recovery. Learn to go outside, let in the light, honor the darkness and more.

Intentionally short, Eleven Rules presents the information in a concise way so you don’t have to read a lot of pages when you are depressed and fatigued.

Includes journaling prompts to help you explore your own life and learn what may be contributing to your depression.

by Anna Mehler Paperny

Amazon Rating:  4.5 /5 stars

Depression is a havoc-wreaking illness that masquerades as personal failing and hijacks your life. After a major suicide attempt in her early twenties, Anna Mehler Paperny resolved to put her reporter’s skills to use to get to know her enemy, setting off on a journey to understand her condition, the dizzying array of medical treatments on offer, and a medical profession in search of answers.

Charting the way depression wrecks so many lives, she maps competing schools of therapy, pharmacology, cutting-edge medicine, the pill-popping pitfalls of long-term treatment, the glaring unknowns and the institutional shortcomings that both patients and practitioners are up against.

She interviews leading medical experts across the US and Canada, from psychiatrists to neurologists, brain-mapping pioneers to family practitioners, and others dabbling in strange hypotheses―and shares compassionate conversations with fellow sufferers.

Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me tracks Anna’s quest for knowledge and her desire to get well. Impeccably reported, it is a profoundly compelling story about the human spirit and the myriad ways we treat (and fail to treat) the disease that accounts for more years swallowed up by disability than any other in the world.

by Matthew Johnstone

Amazon Rating:  4.7 /5 stars

I Had a Black Dog says with wit, insight, economy and complete understanding what other books take 300 pages to say.

There are many different breeds of Black Dog affecting millions of people from all walks of life. The Black Dog is an equal opportunity mongrel.It was Winston Churchill who popularized the phrase Black Dog to describe the bouts of depression he experienced for much of his life.

Matthew Johnstone, a sufferer himself, has written and illustrated this moving and uplifting insight into what it is like to have a Black Dog as a companion and how he learned to tame it and bring it to heel.

Also by Matthew Johnstone:

Johnstone’s second book, “Living with a Black Dog”, is written for those who care for those suffering from depression – friends, family members, colleagues, and even therapists. It speaks directly to the carer and offers practical and sometimes tongue-in-cheek tips on helping the depression sufferer, such as ‘Socks have little do with mental health. If people could just “snap out of it” they would.’ and ‘Encourage any form of regular exercise. Fitness robs the Dog of its power’.

by A. Maher Ismael

Amazon Rating:  4.9 /5 stars

If you feel trapped in the relentless grip of depression — waking up with no energy, haunted by thoughts like “I can’t take it anymore,” or smiling for loved ones while silently suffering inside — you are not alone.
Lose Depression Through Aimless Change is not about chasing happiness or clinging to fleeting moments of joy. It’s about something much more powerful: changing your path, one small step at a time.

A Raw, Honest, and Personal Approach
This book was born from my own experience of navigating the darkest depths of depression, reaching the brink of collapse, and slowly, patiently, finding my way out. I share the exact steps I took to loosen the grip of depression and free myself from its unbearable weight.

For Those Who Feel Like They’re at Their Limit
If you’re struggling and feeling like nothing can bring you peace, this book was written for you. Here, you won’t be told to “think positive” or “just be happy.” Instead, you’ll be guided to take small, aimless steps toward change — not toward joy, but away from pain. Every small shift counts.

For You or a Loved One in Need
Whether you’re looking for relief from your own pain or hoping to support someone you care about, Lose Depression Through Aimless Change offers a thoughtful, practical, and deeply personal guide to healing. Depression isn’t something you “snap out of,” but with the right steps and compassionate guidance, you can slowly, steadily, find your way forward.

by Johann Hari

Amazon Rating:   4.6/5 stars

There was a mystery haunting award-winning investigative journalist Johann Hari. He was thirty-nine years old, and almost every year he had been alive, depression and anxiety had increased in Britain and across the Western world. Why?

He had a very personal reason to ask this question. When he was a teenager, he had gone to his doctor and explained that he felt like pain was leaking out of him, and he couldn’t control it or understand it. Some of the solutions his doctor offered had given him some relief-but he remained in deep pain.

So, as an adult, he went on a forty-thousand-mile journey across the world to interview the leading experts about what causes depression and anxiety, and what solves them. He learned there is scientific evidence for nine different causes of depression and anxiety-and that this knowledge leads to a very different set of solutions: ones that offer real hope.

by Andrew Solomon

Amazon Rating:  4.5 /5 stars

The Noonday Demon examines depression in personal, cultural, and scientific terms. Drawing on his own struggles with the illness and interviews with fellow sufferers, doctors and scientists, policy makers and politicians, drug designers, and philosophers, Andrew Solomon reveals the subtle complexities and sheer agony of the disease as well as the reasons for hope.

He confronts the challenge of defining the illness and describes the vast range of available medications and treatments, and the impact the malady has on various demographic populations—around the world and throughout history. He also explores the thorny patch of moral and ethical questions posed by biological explanations for mental illness.

With uncommon humanity, candor, wit and erudition, award-winning author Solomon takes readers on a journey of incomparable range and resonance into the most pervasive of family secrets. His contribution to our understanding not only of mental illness but also of the human condition is truly stunning.

by Karena Dawn

Amazon Rating:  4.7 /5 stars

In her stirring, vulnerable new memoir, Karena Dawn reveals what it was like to grow up with a mother suffering from severe mental health issues, and how, during her teenage years, she desperately tried to escape her own inner demons. Addicted to pain-numbing drugs and crippled by severe depression, Karena learned how to use grief as a teacher, releasing herself from guilt and shame and finding the inner strength to go from abandonment to forgiveness, from hopelessness to healing. 

Karena’s bold and brave memoir shows us how staying silent about mental illness only reinforces the stigma. At the heart of her story is the eternal struggle we all share—how to move past the pain and suffering of our personal battles to experience life’s joys. Through the healing power of nature, meditation, and fitness, Karena was able to forge a path to self-discovery and find peace. 

Ultimately, The Big Silence reveals how a journey of self-love can lead to a renewed sense of identity and a life filled with hope and optimism.

by Joses Wong
Illustrated by Susanna Wong

Amazon Rating:  4.9 /5 stars

Step inside the walls of some of the biggest mental health hospitals through the eyes of Joses Wong, a recreation therapist, as he navigates an often misunderstood world.

In his memoir, Joses shares real life stories that highlight the human side of mental health care, tugging at your heartstrings with every flip of the page. Encounters with patients such as Marty, Curls, or Bill will challenge existing stigma and give hope to those suffering with a mental illness.

Whether you are a mental health professional or not, A Window into the Ward will inspire you to see people beyond their diagnosis and embrace the humanity within all of us.

A Few Key Takeaways:

• Inspiring True Stories: All stories shared are true accounts (with modified details to protect anonymity)
• Hope for those Afflicted with a Mental Illness: Stories of hope and healing for the patients
• Narratives that Challenge Stigma: A better understanding of what a mental health illness means
• Reflections on the importance of Empathy and Care: How genuine connections can affect a patients journey to healing

by James Longman

Amazon Rating:  4.7 /5 stars

A compelling memoir by ABC News correspondent James Longman in which he discusses mental illness and trauma in families, what the latest genetic science is telling us, and how to not only persevere but thrive.

James Longman was a preteen in boarding school when his dad, who was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, died by suicide. As he got older, James’s own bouts of depression spurred him to examine how his father’s mental health might have affected his own. He engaged with experts to uncover the science behind what is inherited, how much environmental factors can impact genetic traits, and how one can overcome a familial history of mental illness and trauma.

In The Inherited Mind, James Longman invites readers to reflect on their own stories as he shares his quest to better understand himself and his family. Through speaking to mental health experts, to those who have had similar familial experiences, and about his own life stories, James shows us, with heart and humor, how much our bodies can empower and inform us about our own personal mental health histories.

by Jason Lee Morrison

Amazon Rating:  5 /5 stars

Finally Somehow Home is the study of my own life. It is a chronicle of the highest pinnacles of accomplishment and happiness as well as the lowest, darkest dungeons of despair.

Life isn’t a straight line unless you die at birth. It is much more like the waves of the ocean with peaks and troughs, of darkness and light.

In mine I have seen that with every great mountain top, a dark trench awaits, but the deeper that darkness, if you pay attention, the more dazzling the light if you can make it through to the next wave. The climb from the deepest trenches is where you learn to climb the highest peaks, and once you’ve learned to climb out of the pit, the mountains are easy.

This is the story of my wanderings. Through the jungles of Indonesia, and desert wars, and the streets of New York City, and the streams and rivers of Pennsylvania and Oregon, and more beyond that, but it’s not the story of what happened. It’s the story of what I’ve learned from the violent seas of life, and a roadmap back to home again.

by Sara Springer

Amazon Rating:  5 /5 stars

Are you ready to embrace your imperfections and find self-acceptance? In Sara Springer’s memoir, Was I Not Supposed To Say That?, you will find Sara’s personal story of battling mental health and the lessons she’s learned as well as thought-provoking insights and reflections on motherhood, womanhood, and the human experience.

What’s Included:

• Practical tools, exercises, and resources for managing mental health and self-care.
• Inspirational quotes and mantras to uplift and motivate you.
• Heartfelt, witty, and relatable anecdotes that will make you feel less alone.

 Don’t wait any longer – buy now and embark on your journey towards self-discovery and growth with Was I Not Supposed To Say That?

A Few Key Takeaways:

• Gain a deeper understanding of mental health and how it affects our daily lives.
• Learn valuable lessons from Sara’s personal journey that will inspire and empower you to overcome your own struggles.
• Discover the power of vulnerability and how it can lead to healing and growth.
• Overcome the stigma surrounding mental health and feel seen and understood.
• Learn practical tips and tools for managing your mental health and well-being.

by Daniel Newman

Amazon Rating:  4.7 /5 stars

Filled with practical tips, inspiring stories, and actionable steps, “Lessons on Finding Happiness” is more than just a book—it’s your personal guide to living a fulfilling and joyful life. Whether you’re looking to boost your mood, deepen your relationships, or simply find more meaning in everyday moments, this book has something for everyone.

When it comes to happiness, it’s crucial to recognize that there are things we can control and things we can’t that influence our state of happiness. The intent of this book is to guide you in managing things you can control and navigating the things you cannot control while offering lessons on how you can be successful at finding happiness or something close to it, most of the time.

A Few Key Takeaways:

• Learn to appreciate what you have
• Accept there are things out of your control
• Attempt to live each day to the fullest
• Let go of your past
• Live withing your means
• It is always the small things that will bring you the most joy and happiness
• Stop focusing on your problems. Find solutions.

by Dillon Morefield

Amazon Rating:  4.7 /5 stars

“You’re Probably Not as Awful as You Think” offers a refreshing escape from the cycle of self-criticism. With a blend of humor, practical wisdom, and relatable anecdotes, this slightly sarcastic self-help guide encourages you to embrace your imperfections, set healthy boundaries, and find joy in the little things.

It’s about recognizing that the journey to self-improvement is ongoing, filled with learning opportunities and moments to celebrate. So take a breath, ease up on the self-flagellation, and start navigating the path to a kinder, more accepting you.

A Few Key Takeaways:

• How to Quiet Your Inner Critic’s Bullhorn
• How to Shed the “I Must Be Busy” Badge of Honor
• Why Chasing Perfection Is Like Running on a Treadmill While Eating Cake
• How to Overcome the Social Media Comparison Trap
• Why We’re Harder on Ourselves Than Others

by Jessica Lunn

Amazon Rating:  4.9 /5 stars

Speak. Break Free from Silence.

Breaking Through the Silence explores personal complex themes of mental health, growth, addiction, and eating disorders. Each crafted verse told in a story-like form, the author, sheds layers of her own struggles, offering a raw and honest glimpse of the delicate balance between darkness and resilience.
This collection stands as a beacon of hope for those navigating their own battles, reminding us that growth is possible even in times of adversity.

by Jeannine L. Rashidi
Foreword by Jayarajan Kodikannath

Amazon Rating:  4.7/5 stars

Have you ever been emotionally challenged or triggered by something or someone, and it takes hold of you in a way that seems unmanageable?
Are there patterns that seem to be repeating in your life that you wish would change?

Wounded people wound others when they have not tended to their wounds.

Best Selling Author Jeannine Rashidi, Doctor of Ayurveda, guides you through her healing journey from 25 years of PTSD, trauma, and adverse life experiences in this easy-to-read true story. It will make you laugh, cry, reflect, and ultimately become you again. You will find your inner healer with fundamental best practices while learning a proven step-by-step process that has guided thousands of people out of the tight grips of their trauma.

A Few Key Takeaways:

• Explore the parts of you that are disconnected and relive the trauma time loop
• Discover what is needed to heal
• Heal the disconnect between your heart and mind
• Integrate the part of you that was disconnected and become whole again
• Relate to yourself and others as the integrated version of yourself